Weather Woes

[Karen]

So, tornadoes his Springfield, MA this afternoon, no injuries that I heard of. We are having constant rumbling of thunder overhead at the moment, and periodic downpours.

It got me thinking - how do you react to thunderstorms? How do your pets?

I love them. Always have. When I was a kid, I loved to see the leaves of the huge maple outside my bedroom window silhouetted in black by the flash of lightning, and afternoon storms, Grandpa Smith and I would sit and play rummy on the porch, so we were sort of outside, but sheltered at the same time. The porch at my parents' house wraps the front and around the side, so we could position the card table so the cards wouldn't get wet.

Contrast this with the mom and daughter next door - they were terrified of storms. Would scream with every clap of thunder, and were nearly hysterical. Every storm. They had a miserable time of it, and I kinda felt bad for them, a little, while still thinking they were completely ridiculous.

Sheba, my best dog ever, hated them. She'd crawl into my parents bed and huddle with them, poor thing. The vet told us she was likely caught in a storm with her puppies when she was s stray, before we got her. It was the only thing she was ever afraid of.

The others dogs we've had were mostly indifferent to them. Yours?

[Taz_Zoee]

There was a tornado reported to have touched down in Yuba City, California. I didn't know we got tornados too!!! I didn't hear if there was much damage or injuries. That's way too close to home!!

It makes me so sad to hear about all this crazy weather that is happening all over the world. Almost makes me wonder if crazy guy Harrold Camping might eventually be right.......

[Karen]

Almost makes me wonder if crazy guy Harrold Camping might eventually be right.......

Not me, we just now are better connected globally. Fifty years ago, a tornado happening in Springfield, MA might make news in New ENgland, but only if there were deaths - otherwise it'd just be a minor blip. Now we hear about every interesting weather event everywhere, no matter how small or large.

[Freedom]

They are now reporting 4 dead from those tornadoes in Springfield, Mass. We had an interesting hour and a half, watching it all on TV, we were in the "watch" area but the warning area was 15 miles north of us. The sky was really weird!

Willy had to go out in the back yard and bark at the thunder up in the sky twice today the silly goof!

Tasha found this a very rough day, she is terribly afraid of it poor girl. She pants and drools, shakes uncontrollably, eyes in huge circles. She won't leave my side and prefers me to hold her.

The humidity is more like Florida, we've been at 91% all day, not a nice feeling!

[K9karen]

Hmmmm. Let's see. Who's worse, me or Mz Logan?

I was a latchkey kid so if there was lightening, thunder, wind and dark skies, I was under the dining room table. We lived in a huge 3 story house with lots of trees. Hearing them whip the house drove me nuts. And that was daytime. I'm better now. I stopped coddling myself!!

Mz Logan, as you know hates flashes. I didn't understand what was going on when I first got her, since Mr Cody was fearless. She hides in the family room or I'll let her down the basement. I stopped coddling her too (I felt bad) and now I just tell her "rain, thunder! Get your (specific) toy" and distract her. She's much. much better. I think she knows she's OK. Took many years. (have to fight the temptation to hold her)

[smokey the elder]

There was a waterspout in the Connecticut River that hit the Memorial Bridge, then crossed the river! I'd hate to be any of the poor b*stards on the bridge when the tornado hit. My home town of Agawam had some damage, too.

[Taz_Zoee]

Not me, we just now are better connected globally. Fifty years ago, a tornado happening in Springfield, MA might make news in New ENgland, but only if there were deaths - otherwise it'd just be a minor blip. Now we hear about every interesting weather event everywhere, no matter how small or large.

I was only kidding anyway. But you are so right.

[Karen]

It is currently raining so hard - thunderstorms passing through - that there is a sheet of water from the sliding glass doors to the spot under the little tree that is mounded up to the tree itself! even the grass is underwater!